Method of and apparatus for making containers



Feb. 19, 1935. E 1,992,145

METHOD OFYAND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS Filed March 7, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 06N 6 04 771 Feb. 19, 1935. CQNT] I 1,992,145

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS Filed March 7, 1952 Sheets-Sheet 2 /%Q5.

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BY M' Mo avia-Y;

E. CONTI Feb. 19, 1935.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed March 7, 1932 BY ,Bw-ULV PM ATTORNEY:

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS.

Eugene Conti, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, tov Herz Cup Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 7, 1932, Serial No. 597,209

34 Claims. (01. 93-51) This invention relates to a method of and aptinct advance in the art. No claim for the conparatus for making containers of paper or other tainer is made herein, that being the subject of suitable material especially the rims of suchcona co-pending application SerialNumber 595,495, tainers, and has for an object the provision of filed February 27 1932- improvements in this art. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a 5 The invention will be described in connection plaited paper drinking cup which is formed with an exemplary embodiment thereof adapted from a single s e Of P p Provide a bottom to form rims on plaited paper-cups. In the aca p ed d e and a rim The rim companying drawings which illustrate this emat its upper surface forms a flared upwardly in- 10 bodiment of the invention: clined continuation of the inner surface of the 10 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a, plaited paper side wall. The entire rim including the side of cup-made according to the invention; the cup at the base of the rim as finished is very Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the s oot t e being 1 0 C cu e e al folds same taken approximately .on the line 22 of which are so often found at the base of the rim,

1.; Fig. l; V and the plaits being pressed down to such an Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a die meohextent that their edges Wh l O Co e. s e anism for folding the rim of the cup, with a cup a e scarc y perceptible to the touch- The rim blank therein; we is generally elliptical in cross-section with the Fig. 4 is a partial view at the first stage of the ends of the ellipse, particularly the 0111761 forming operations wherein the upper edge is sharpened- This shape in geometrical terms is 20 partly folded outwardly; defined as elliptic-lanceolate, and since the Fig. 5 is a similar iew at a. second stage of lower inner end is somewhat thicker than the the out-folding operation; upper outer'end it may in more common terms be Fig. 6 is a similar view at the final stage of the desig a ed as l outfolding operation; As shown in Fig. 3, the die mechanism for pre- 25 Fig.7 is a similar view showing the outer edge liminerily r in the rim mpris s a pfolded downwardly; shaped female die member 20 which may be fixed Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the lower edge n p i relative to the m ifi n memb s folded inwardly; of the die mechanism, a plug-shaped male die on Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the first stage member 21 which fits snugly within the female in the operations for folding the outer doubled die member, a first upper sleeve 22 slidable upon edge downwardly; the straight portion 23 of the male die member,

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the second a second upper sleeve 24, a third upper sleeve and final stage of this down-folding operation; 25, a fourth upper sleeve 26, a series of radially in Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of die mechamovable folding members 2'7 mounted upon the nism for performing the final shaping operation sleeve 26, a first or inner lower sleeve 28 and a on the rim and forming it under pressure into second or outer lower sleeve 29. All of the upper final shape, the view showing the beginning of sleeves are stagg with respect t0 the the. operation with a cup in the die; 7 sleeves for a purpose which will be made evident i Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the final stage as the description proceeds. 40 at which the rim is finished; and I In Fig. 3 a cup blank 15 is shown clamped be- Fig. 13 is a plan view of certain iris diaphra tween the male and female die members. The

mechanism employed for folding the lower edge other die members including the lower sleeves inwardly. 28 and 29 are in their uppermost positions. The

4'5 According to the present invention a container ends of the lower sleeves are even with the upper v rimis formed integral with the container which edge of the female member. Here the cup has is smooth both within itself and at its connection been plaited' (if a plaited cup is taken) and its with the container; which is strong and rigid; upper edge section 31 which is to form the rim I which will permanently retain its shape; which extends up in alignment with. the side wall of S is easily. manufactured; which is capable of bethe cup. in; sacked or nested within a small space; which In Fig. 4 the first upper sleeve 22 hasdescended cooperates readily with dispensing machines; to spread the section 31 somewhat and grip the which has a thin edge and a cross-sectional shape inner portion thereof against the upper edge of Q I whichim'akes it attractive for drinking purposes; the female die member-20s The s ev is p i d and which in other respects constitutes a disat its lower end with a beveled inner portion 32 outer portion 33 adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the female member, the latter surface, however, extending beyond the outer edge of the upper end of the female die member. The

. outfolding of the rim section 31 takes place about the fold line 34 at the inner edge of the female member. In this operation the outer portion of the section 31 has not been bent down but remains partly upright due to its resistance to circumferential stretching which must occur in spreading. This portion, however, is perfectly free to stretch since the spreading is initiated at the inner or lower edge and the remainder of the rimsection is unconfined. This would not be the case if a previous fold had been made near the outer edge of the end section, for this would lock the material against stretching, particularly in plaited cups. If the material is locked at a seam line and subsequently spread outward it is very likely to split. It is therefore seen that the character of the finished rim may be very favorably afiected by folding the entire length of material which is to form the rim outwardly at the first operation. The maximum stretch is thus imparted to the outer edge and all further folding will largely produce contraction only.

In Fig. 5 the second upper sleeve 24 has descended to spread the section 31 still further. The end 35 of the sleeve is beveled on the outside to assist its entry within the section 25. The edge of the sleeve, however, is not sharp enough nor is the pressure thereon great enough to cut the material.

In Fig. 6 the third sleeve 25, having a fiat end, has descended and the end section 31 has been fully folded out horiozntally.

In Fig. 7 the fourth or outer upper sleeve 26 which bears the radically movable members 27 has descended to bend the outer end of the section 31 downwardly about a second fold line '36 to form a second section 37. This section is approximately long enough to extend to the outside of the female die when folded inward as shown in Fig. 8, i. e., it is slightly less than half the original length of the section 31. The fold line is not sharp since there is considerable clearance between the sleeve 25 and the second (outer) lower sleeve 29. The plaits are therefore not so tightly locked as they would be if a sharp or compressed fold line were formed.

In Fig. 8 the lower sleeves 28 and 29 have descended a short distance and the radially moving members 27 have moved inward to fold the section 3'7 beneath the section 31. All of the radial members 27 together. form a generally circular opening which decreases in diameter as the members move inward. They are similar to the iris diaphragm mechanism of a camera. As shown in Fig. 13. the several radially moving members 2'7 are pivoted'atone end to the turnable plate 40 which is provided with the operating arm 41 and at the other end are provided with studs 38 which are engaged in the slots 39 of a member secured to the sleeve 26. The arm 41 may be operated by any suitable mechanism.

In Fig. 9 the outer edge of the doubled rim has been folded down about a third fold line 42 by downward movement of the third upper sleeve 25 and the se'zond lower sleeve 29. The sleeve 25 is spaced from the inner lower sleeve 28, so the fold line is not 'sharp. In this operation the inner lower sleeve 28 (having moved upward again) andthe second upper sleeve 24 confine the edge of the lower end section 43 between them so it will not be pressed down to unfold it.

In Fig. 10 the entire doubled rim has been folded down about a fourth fold line 44 spaced slightly outward from the first fold line 34 by downward movement of the first upper sleeve 22 and the inner lower sleeve 28. The fold line again is not sharp due to the space between the sleeve 22 and the outer side of the female die member 20.

All members of the die mechanism are now returned to their original relative positions, as shown in Fig. 3, and all of the upper ones, including the male die member 21 are withdrawn from the lower ones by a distance sufficient to permit the removal of the container and the introduction of a new one. The container is now ready for removal to the finishing die mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 11, this finishing mechanism comprises a female die member 45 and a male die member 46. The container is seated upon the male die member and the female 'die member then moves up upon the male die member, at the same time folding and pressing the rim to final form in the mating cavities 47 and 48 formed on juxtaposed shoulders of the female and male die members respectively. These cavities are arcuate in shape and inclined upwardly and outwardly. When closed together the cavities form an elliptic-lanceolate or almond-shaped space for shaping the rim. They are inclined less than is the rim on the container as completed to compensate for resiliency of the rim material. In Fig. 11 the container is shown as it is first put in the finishing die. Here its rim is seen to have sprung outwardly at the bottom but the fold lines 34, 36, 42 and 44 and the sections 31, 37 and 43 can still be identified. The fold line 42 remains as a crease to affect the final shaping operations.

Fig. 12 shows the parts at the end of the final operation. The fold'line 36 can still be identified but the fold lines 34 and 44 have been obliterated and the fold line 42 has been accentuated, it being instrumental in causing the end section 43 to be folded reversely as it was pushed upwardly.

The upwardly inclined surfaces of the die shoulders cause the rim material to slide toward the outer edge at the top and toward the inner edge at the bottom as the compression progresses so as to lay the outer surface material down smoothly without wrinkling or folding. During the final stages of the compression the material at the interior of the rim is caused to flow toward the center of the rim where the space is greatest due to the concavities formed in the shoulders. The finishing die cooperates particularly well with a rim which has been preformed by fiat folding and initial bending as hereinabove described but it is also useful in connection with rims which have been turned in other ways to produce a plurality of thicknesses of material therein.

In Fig. 2 the finished rim 18 and adjacent portions of the cup are shown in section. The view is taken through a plait and shows three layers of material, this being representative of the upper edge of a cup at almost any section of the rim if the cup if formed of overlapping plaits. The view is greatly enlarged for the sake of clearnees so is somewhat exaggerated as to the thickness of the layers and otherwise; Here it is seen that four sections of material have been placed in the rim in superposed relation, each section including as may layers of materal as there may be in the upper side wall of the cup. The rim layers are securely locked together so'as to resist any tendency to unfold, yet due to the manner in in Fig. 11.

which the rim is formed the edges are not split or puckered.

The finished rim provided hereby emerges in a smooth curve from the side wall of the cup and turns upwardly and outwardly in a gentle curve until at the outer edge it approaches though it does not reach a horizontal plane. This upper section of the rim forms the bevelled upper edge of the cup and terminates in a thin outer edge 51. At this outer edge or fold line the material is abruptly reversed or folded back to form the lower rim section 52. The lower section 52 terminates in'the inner edge or fold line 53 where the material is abruptly reversed or folded to form the lower core section 54 which lies directly against the lower section 52. Finally the material is abruptly reversed upon itself at the upper edge of the inner core section 54 along the circumferential line 55 to form the terminal or upper core section 56. The last section is folded reversely in a rotational sense from that in which the previous sections were folded and lies against the lower surface of the upper section50. It mayhave some residual resiliency about the fold line 55 in spite of the heavy compression to which it has been subjected in the finishing operation and usually this is sufficient to cause the inner edge 53 of the. rim to stand clear of the side of the cup. The folding of the rim has been of such a nature that this spreading or unfolding action of the section 56 about the fold line 55 is minimized by decreasing the effective leverage about this line. Moreover, the compressing operation has locked the edges or fold lines 55, 53 and 51 against stretching and the rim will permanently maintain its shape. In Fig. 2 the final sections and fold lines are designated by appropriate reference characters with full lead lines, while the transitory sections and fold lines produced in the preforming or folding operations (Figs. 3 to 12) are designated by.other reference characters with dotted lead lines. The final compressing operation causes considerable shifting of parts so that it is difficult to identify the transitory parts, but for assistance in understanding what has transpired it may be said as an approximation that the final terminal section 56 corresponds to the transitory section 43, that the final fold line55 corresponds to the transitory fold line or line of weakness 42, that the final lower core section 54 corresponds to the transitory section 37, and that the final inner edge 53 corresponds to the transitory fold line 36; the transitory fold lines 34 and 44 have been entirely obliterated, not having been compressed or sharpened up in the folding operations, but if they could be identified they would fall along the length of the final upper section 50 somewhere near the places indicated.

The die mechanisms described hereinabove may be operatedby various organizations of machinery 'as is obvious. Apparatus which is capable of op:

erating the various parts of the preforming die is shown in Fig. 3 and that for the finishing die In the case of the preforming die mechanism, Fig. 3, the female die 20 is assumed to be stationary, while the male die 21 is provided with an operating rod 60 for moving it away from the female die sufficiently for the insertion and removal of cups. The rod may be rigid or may include a spring 60a therein. Hereinthe rod 60 is shown to be moved only in conjunction with the bodily removal of the entire mechanism for operating the upper sleeves but the arrangement may be otherwise if desired. The upper sleeves downwardly,

22, 24, 25 and 26 are provided with collars 61, 62, 63, 64, pins 65, 66, 67, 68 andoperating rods 69.

70, 71, 72 respectively. All of the rods 60, 69, 70,

71 and 72 extend into a box where they may be operated by any suitable mechanism as for example by cams or other suitable means driven by a shaft 74. The lower sleeves 28 and 29 are provided with collars 76, 77, pins 78, 79 and operating rods 80, 81 respectively. The rods 80, 81'extend into a box 82 where they may be operated by any suitable mechanism as for example by cams or other suitable means driven by 'a shaft 83. The oscillating arm 41 of the iris diaphragm mechanism may be operated by a lever 84 pivoted at 85 and extending into the box 73 where it is operated by suitable means. The lower end of the rod will, of course, provide for the oscillation and vertical reciprocation of the arm 41. The shafts 74 and 83 may be geared together so as to turn at equal speeds and are driven by suitable power means. The drive means may embody a one-revolution clutch, if desired, so as to permit of the insertion and removal of cups, but in a complete machine the required pause may be obtained by the general interorganization of parts.

The operation has been fully set forth in the above description but it is to be understood that the apparatus is not limited to this exact-operation. Neither is the method limited to the exact apparatus which has been illustrated, it being obvious that other apparatus might be devised which would attain the, same ultimate results as the present apparatus though in a different way. The invention is therefore not to be limited except by the-prior art and the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming rims on containers, comprising in combination, a conical female die into which the container is adapted to be seated and which is shorter than the container whereby a protruding 'end of the container is permitted to extend above the upper edge of the die, a male die fitting within the female die and having a conical portion which is shorter than the female die, said male die being provided with a cylindrical portion extending from the base of the conical portion, a first upper sleeve mounted upon the straight or cylindrical portion of the male die for clamping the upper edge of the container upon the upper edge of the female die and starting an outward fold in the upper section of the container, a second upper sleeve mounted upon the first upper sleeve for further turning the section outwardly, a third upper sleeve mounted upon the second upper sleeve for completing the outward turning of said section, a fourth upper sleeve mounted upon the third upper sleeve for turning the outer section of said first section radially moving iris diaphragm means mounted on the fourth upper sleeve for turning said second section inwardly, a first lower sleeve mounted for reciprocation upon the female d e for cooperating with certain of the upper sleeves, a second lower sleevemounted for reciprocation upon the first lower sleeve for cooperating with certain of the upper sleeves, and means for actuating all of said sleeves, dies and diaphragm means for the purpose described.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said first upper sleeve is formed with an inner conical end portion adapted to fit within the female die and with a fiat end portion adapted to seat upon the upper end of the female die, and

in which said second upper sleeve is formed with a conical end portion, for the purposes set forth.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the first, second and third upper sleeves are staggered with respect to the first and second lower sleeves for the purposes set forth.

4. Apparatus for forming the rims on containers, comprising in combination, means for holding the container, means for folding an upper section of the containeroutwardly, means for folding a second section downwardly from the first section, means for folding the second section inwardly, means for clamping the inner end of the second section against the lower surface of the first section, means for folding the outer portion of the doubled thickness of material thus formed downwardly while the inner portion is held, and means for folding the entire doubled thickness of material downwardly.

5. Aparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said several means comprise cooperating reciprocable upper and lower sleeves.

6. Apparatus for forming the rims of contain ers, comprising in combination, male and female members for holding the container, and a series of staggered upper and lower sleeves concentrically mounted for reciprocation along the axes of said members.

7. Apparatus for forming the rims'of containers, comprising in combination, male and female members for holding the container between them,

and a series of upper sleeves and a series of cooperating lower sleeves concentrically mounted exteriorly of said members.

8. Apparatus for forming the rims of containers, comprising in combination, means for clamping the container in a circumferential line near its upper end, and a series of upper sleeves and a series of cooperating lower sleeves concentrically mounted for reciprocation along the axis of the container.

9. Apparatus for forming the rims of containers, comprising in combination, male and female die members for confining the side walls of the container firmly between them and for clamping the container in a circumferential line near its upper end, and a series of upper sleeves and a series of cooperating lower sleeves concentrically mounted for reciprocation along the axis of the container.

10. Apparatus for forming rims on containers, comprising in combination, means for holding a container, and a'plurality of concentric reciprocable sleeves associated with other concentric reciprocable sleeves and with said holding means for folding up the rim.

11. Apparatus for forming rims on containers,

comprising in combination, means to turn a rim section radially outwardly and clamp the inner portion of the section, and means cooperating with said first means for turning the outer portion of said section in an axial direction while the inner portion is clamped and for thereafter folding the outer portion radially inward upolr the inner portion.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said second mentioned means comprises, an axially movablemember and a series of radially moving members.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said second mentioned means comprises, an axially movable member and a series of thin radially moving members forming together an iris diaphragm device of variable diameter.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said second mentioned means comprises, an axially movable member, an iris diaphragm device of variable diameter, and oscillatable means for actuating the device.

15. In apparatus for forming rims on containers, the sub-combination for folding a section of the rim reversely upon an inner section of the rim which comprises, a sleeve reciprocable axially of the container for folding the section into axial alignment, and a radially acting device for folding the section into trans-axial alignment, said device being positioned and actuated to act upon the section after the sleeve has moved it into axial alignment.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which said device is mounted upon said sleeve. I

17. Apparatus for folding a section of a container rim outwardly comprising in combination, means for holding the container with only its upper edge exposed and a plurality of reciprocatory sleeves mounted one within another and all acting upon the rim.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1'7 in which said sleeves act successively from the interior one to the outer one.

19. Apparatus for forming rims on containers comprising a male die, a shoulder thereon having a circumferential recess therein which. is inclined upwardly and outwardly, a female die closely and slidably fitting said male die at and above the outer edge of the shoulder, a shoulder thereon adapted to cooperate with the shoulder .on said male die, the shoulder of the female die having a circumferential recess which is inclined downwardly and inwardly, the mating recesses together when the dies have completely converged forming a cavity which is approximately ellipticlanseolate in cross-section and which is inclined upwardly and outwardly, said dies being movable relative to each other, said cavity being substantially enclosed on all sides to confine the rim both while the dies are converging and after they have converged whereby to compress and shape the rim while confined.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which the interior portion of the male die is conical and in which said female die is formed to stand clear of the interior portion of said male die except at the inner edge'of the shoulder thereon.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said male die is provided with an interior conical portion integral with said shoulder, the curve of the cavity of the shoulder forming a smooth continuation of the sides of the conical portion of the die. I

22. The method of forming rims on containers which comprises, folding an upper section of the container outward, folding an outer section of the first section downwardly and inwardly beneath the irmer portion of the first section, folding the outer portion of the doubled edge thus formed downwardly, folding approximately the entire doubled edge downwardly, and compressing the edge thus formed to cause further folding and compacting of the material to constitute the finished rim.

23. The method of forming rims on containers composed of plaited sheet material which comprises, folding outwardly from the upper end of the container asection which is long enough to form the major portion of the rim before the plaits have been set, folding the outer portion of this sectioninwardly upon theinner portion of the section, folding the outer portion of this doubled rim downwardly to form a line of weakness, folding the entire doubled rim downwardly, and shaping the rim blank thus formed by an upward pressure in dies which are provided-with a rim cavity.

24. The method of forming rims on containers composed of pliable plaited sheet material which comprises, folding outward a section of the upper end of the container in a single continuous lengthwhich is substantially long enough to form the entire rim, and subsequently forming this section into a rim by a series of folding operations followed by a compressing operation, there being no sharp creases formed at any fold line during the folding operations. v

25. The method of forming rims on containers composed of plaited fibrous material which comprises, folding the upper portion of the rim several times to procure a rim consisting of a plurality of superposed sections of material, and thereafter in ,a closed cavity of decreasing size compressing and compacting the rim in the general direction of the axis of the container, that is, with the resultant line of pressure forming" only a small angle with the axis of the container.

26. The method of forming rims on containers composed of pliable sheet material which comprises, forming a doubled radially alignedrim section from the upper portion of the container with the free end of the rim disposed inwardly, producing a line of weakness near the free end of the doubled section, and compressing the rim vertically to produce the reverse folding of the end section and to compact the rim thus formed.

27. The method of forming rims on containers composed of pliable sheet material which comprises, producing an outwardly flared rim blank which includes four connected thicknesses of material like that forming the side wall of the container, and compressing the rim blank vertically, that is, with the resultant line of pressure forming only a small angle with the axis of the container to form the finished rim.

28. The method of forming rims on containers composed of pliable sheet material which comprises, placing a container with a preformed rim blank upon a male die until the upper portion of the container fits closely on the die, and shaping and compressing the rim blank by a female die provided with an inclined concave rim-embracing shoulder which cooperates with an inclined concave rim-embracing shoulder on the male die to form an enclosed rim cavity of decreasing size which is generally elliptical in shape when closed, the closing of the dies causing a movement of material toward the enlarged central portion of the cavity.

29. The method of forming rims on containers composed of pliable material which comprises, preforming'the rim blank by a series of folding operations, and compressing the entire rim in a vertical direction, that is, with the resultant line of pressure forming only a small angle with the axis of the container by dies which are prowhich produces the shape of the final rim.

30. The method of forming rims on containers composed of pliable sheet material which comprises, gripping an upper section of the container at its inner edge and performing'a series of flat folding operations on the upper section while thus gripped.

31. The method of forming a rim on a plaited paper container which comprises, turning the rim upon itself to concentrate a large amount of material therein, and compressing the rim in a substantially closed cavity of decreasing size formed between mating converging dies, the cavity having concave upper and lower surfaces which are inclined upwardly and outwardly from the inside of the container, whereby to concentrate material at the center of the rim and compress and compact the rim without forming circumferential lines of buckling or wrinkling therein.

32. Apparatus for forming a rim on a paper container, comprising in combination, means for turning over the edge of the container to place a plurality of layers of material in the rim, and a finishing die assembly for compressing and shaping the rim, said assembly comprising male and female die members having juxtaposed shoulders and fitting each other relatively closely for relative axial movement both above and below the shoulders to form a substantially closed rim chamber of decreasing size, which chamber finally is sufliciently small to compress and compact the material to form a solid rim, the shoulder and interiorly adjacent surfaces of the male die forming a continuously smooth surface of gradual curvature fitting the interior and rim of the container whereby to form a smooth rim joining the side walls of the container in smooth lines without circumferential lines of wrinkling or buckling.

33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 in which said shoulders on the die members are inclined upwardly and outwardly from the side walls of the container and are concavewhereby to cause the material along the upper surface of the rimto move upwardly and outwardly toward the outer edge of the rim and to cause the material at the lower side of the rim to move inwardly and downwardly toward the side walls of the container during initial compression and to squeeze the rim material toward the center of the rim to form an enlargement thereat and to form a thin edge at the outside of the'rim during the final stages of compression.

34. The method of forming a rim on a conbak against an inner section while the containl er is thus gripped.

EUGENE CONTI. 

